So you want to have a drink but you aren't sure why? Here are some GREAT reasons to call your friends over and have a party.

November 4th


- The first day of the Ludi Plebeii, celebrated until November 17 (Roman Empire)
- Earliest day on which Return Day can fall, while November 10 is the latest; celebrated on Thursday following the first Monday of November of every even numbered year. (Georgetown, Delaware)
- Christian Feast Day:
- Day of Love (1970s Egypt)
- Feast of Qudrat (Power), first day of the month of Qudrat of the Bahá'í calendar (Bahá'í Faith)
- Flag Day (Panama)
- National Unity and Armed Forces Day or Giorno dell'Unitŕ Nazionale e Festa delle Forze Armate (Italy)
- Unity Day (Russia)
- Yitzhak Rabin Memorial (unofficial, but widely commemorated)

November 4th


- 2008 - Barack Obama becomes the first African-American to be elected President of the United States.
- 2008 - Proposition 8 passes in California, revoking state recognition of LGBT marriages.
- 2002 - Chinese authorities arrest cyber-dissident He Depu for signing a pro-democracy letter to the 16th Communist Party Congress.
- 1995 - Israeli prime minister Yitzhak Rabin is assassinated by an extremist Orthodox Israeli.
- 1994 - San Francisco: First conference that focuses exclusively on the subject of the commercial potential of the World Wide Web.
- 1993 - A China Airlines Boeing 747 overruns Runway 13 at Hong Kong's Kai Tak International Airport while landing during a typhoon, injuring 22 people.
- 1979 - Iran hostage crisis begins: a group of Iranians, mostly students, invades the US embassy in Tehran and takes 90 hostages (53 of whom are American).
- 1973 - The Netherlands experiences the first Car Free Sunday caused by the 1973 oil crisis. Highways are deserted and are used only by cyclists and roller skaters.
- 1970 - Vietnam War: Vietnamization – The United States turns control of the Binh Thuy Air Base in the Mekong Delta over to South Vietnam.
- 1970 - Genie, a 13-year-old feral child is found in Los Angeles, California having been locked in her bedroom for most of her life.
- 1966 - Two-thirds of Florence, Italy is submerged as the River Arno floods; together with the contemporaneous flood of the Po River in northern Italy, this leads to 113 deaths, 30,000 made homeless, and the destruction of numerous Renaissance artworks and books.
- 1962 - In a test of the Nike-Hercules air defense missile, Shot Dominic-Tightrope is successfully detonated 69,000 feet above Johnston Island. It would also be the last atmospheric nuclear test conducted by the United States.
- 1956 - Soviet troops enter Hungary to end the Hungarian revolution against the Soviet Union, that started on October 23. Thousands are killed, more are wounded, and nearly a quarter million leave the country.
- 1955 - After being totally destroyed in World War II, the rebuilt Vienna State Opera reopens with a performance of Beethoven's Fidelio.
- 1952 - The United States government establishes the National Security Agency.
- 1944 - World War II: Bitola Liberation Day
- 1942 - World War II: Second Battle of El Alamein – Disobeying a direct order by Adolf Hitler, General Field Marshal Erwin Rommel leads his forces on a five-month retreat.
- 1939 - World War II: U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt orders the United States Customs Service to implement the Neutrality Act of 1939, allowing cash-and-carry purchases of weapons by belligerents.
- 1924 - Nellie Tayloe Ross of Wyoming is elected the first female governor in the United States.
- 1922 - In Egypt, British archaeologist Howard Carter and his men find the entrance to Pharaoh Tutankhamun's tomb in the Valley of the Kings.
- 1921 - The Sturmabteilung or SA is formed by Adolf Hitler
- 1921 - Japanese Prime Minister Hara Takashi is assassinated in Tokyo.
- 1921 - The Italian unknown soldier is buried in the Altare della Patria (Fatherland Altar) in Rome.
- 1918 - World War I: Austria-Hungary surrenders to Italy.
- 1918 - The German Revolution begins when 40,000 sailors take over the port in Kiel.
- 1890 - City & South London Railway: London's first deep-level tube railway opens between King William Street and Stockwell.
- 1864 - American Civil War: Battle of Johnsonville – Confederate troops bombard a Union supply base and destroy millions of dollars in material.
- 1861 - The University of Washington opens in Seattle, Washington as the Territorial University.
- 1852 - Count Camillo Benso di Cavour becomes the prime minister of Piedmont-Sardinia, which soon expands to become Italy.
- 1839 - The Newport Rising: the last large-scale armed rebellion against authority in mainland Britain.
- 1825 - The Erie Canal is completed with Governor DeWitt Clinton performing the Wedding of The Waters ceremony in New York Harbour.
- 1791 - The Western Confederacy of American Indians wins a major victory over the United States in the Battle of the Wabash.
- 1783 - W.A. Mozart's Symphony No. 36 is performed for the first time in Linz, Austria.
- 1737 - The Teatro di San Carlo is inaugurated.
- 1677 - The future Mary II of England marries William, Prince of Orange. They would later jointly reign as William and Mary.
- 1576 - Eighty Years' War: In Flanders, Spain captures Antwerp (after three days the city is nearly destroyed).
- 1501 - Catherine of Aragon (later Henry VIII's first wife) meets Arthur Tudor, Henry VIII's older brother – they would later marry.
- 1429 - Joan of Arc liberates Saint-Pierre-le-Moűtier.
- 1333 - The River Arno flooding causing massive damage in Florence as recorded by the Florentine chronicler Giovanni Villani.

November 4th


- 1997 - Bea Binene, Filipina actress
- 1987 - T.O.P, Korean rapper (Big Bang)
- 1986 - Alexz Johnson, Canadian singer and actress
- 1986 - Adrian Zaugg, South African racing driver
- 1982 - Devin Hester, American football player
- 1981 - Vince Wilfork, American football player
- 1981 - Guy Martin, English motorcycle racer
- 1980 - Jerry Collins, New Zealand rugby union footballer
- 1980 - Richard Owens, American football player
- 1980 - Marcy Rylan, American actress
- 1980 - Sabrina Colie, Jamaican actress
- 1979 - Jesse Camp, American VJ
- 1979 - Trishelle Cannatella, American reality TV cast member and model
- 1979 - Audrey Hollander, American pornographic actress
- 1978 - Carmen Cali, American baseball player
- 1978 - John Grabow, American baseball player
- 1978 - Danny Salomon, American actor
- 1977 - Larry Bigbie, American baseball player
- 1977 - So Ji-sub, South Korean swimmer, model and actor
- 1977 - Tonicha Jeronimo, British actress
- 1976 - Bruno Junqueira, Brazilian racing driver
- 1976 - Mario Melchiot, Dutch footballer
- 1975 - Éric Fichaud, Canadian ice hockey player
- 1975 - Eduard Kokcharov, Russian handball player
- 1975 - Mikki Moore, American basketball player
- 1975 - Curtis Stone, Australian chef and television personality
- 1975 - Orlando Pace, American football player
- 1975 - Heather Tom, American actress
- 1975 - Lorenzen Wright, American basketball player (d. 2010)
- 1974 - Cedric Bixler-Zavala, American musician (At the Drive-In, The Mars Volta)
- 1974 - Louise Redknapp, English singer, television presenter
- 1972 - Luís Figo, Portuguese footballer
- 1972 - Tabassum Hashmi, Indian actress
- 1970 - Malena Ernman, Swedish opera singer
- 1970 - Tim DeBoom, American triathlete
- 1970 - Bethenny Frankel, American chef and television personality
- 1969 - Sean "Diddy" Combs, American record producer and rapper
- 1969 - Matthew McConaughey, American actor
- 1968 - Carlos Baerga, Puerto Rican baseball player
- 1968 - Miles Long, American pornographic actor and director
- 1967 - Eric Karros, American baseball player
- 1965 - Wayne Static, American musician (Static-X)
- 1965 - Malandra Burrows, English actress and singer
- 1965 - Pata, Japanese musician
- 1965 - Jeff Scott Soto, American musician (Yngwie Malmsteen, Journey)
- 1964 - Kurt Krakowian, Child Actor
- 1963 - Marc Déry, Canadian singer and guitarist (Zébulon)
- 1963 - Rosario Flores, Spanish singer and actress
- 1963 - Michel Therrien, Canadian ice hockey coach
- 1963 - Lena Zavaroni, Scottish artist and singer (d. 1999)
- 1962 - Jeff Probst, American television host
- 1961 - Daron Hagen, American composer
- 1961 - Edward Knight, American composer
- 1961 - Ralph Macchio, American actor
- 1961 - Les Sampou, American musician
- 1961 - Nigel Worthington, Northern Irish footballer
- 1960 - Marc Awodey, American artist and writer
- 1960 - Frl. Menke, German pop singer of the Neue Deutsche Welle
- 1960 - Kathy Griffin, American comedian
- 1958 - Anne Sweeney, American television executive
- 1957 - Tony Abbott, Australian politician
- 1956 - Jordan Rudess, American musician (Dream Theater)
- 1956 - James Honeyman-Scott, English guitarist (The Pretenders) (d. 1982)
- 1955 - Matti Vanhanen, Finnish politician, former Prime Minister
- 1954 - Chris Difford, English musician and songwriter (Squeeze)
- 1953 - Richie Green, Canadian actor
- 1953 - Carlos Gutierrez, American politician and 35th United States Secretary of Commerce
- 1953 - Jacques Villeneuve, Canadian racing driver
- 1953 - Dr. Marvel Williamson, American educator
- 1951 - Traian B?sescu, President of Romania
- 1951 - Cosey Fanni Tutti, English performance artist (Throbbing Gristle, Chris and Cosey)
- 1950 - Charles Frazier, American author
- 1950 - Markie Post, American actress
- 1946 - Robert Mapplethorpe, American photographer (d. 1989)
- 1946 - Laura Bush, former First Lady of the United States
- 1946 - Frederick Elmes, American cinematographer
- 1944 - Scherrie Payne, American singer (The Supremes)
- 1944 - Linda Gary, American voice actress (d. 1995)
- 1943 - Marlčne Jobert, French actress
- 1943 - Clark Graebner, American tennis player
- 1943 - Bob Wollek, French race car driver (d. 2001)
- 1940 - Delbert McClinton, American musician
- 1939 - Shakuntala Devi, Indian calculating prodigy
- 1937 - Loretta Swit, American actress
- 1937 - Michael Wilson, Canadian politician
- 1936 - C. K. Williams, American poet
- 1933 - Tito Francona, American baseball player
- 1933 - C. Odumegwu Ojukwu, Nigerian politician
- 1932 - Tommy Makem Irish folk singer-songwriter (d. 2007)
- 1932 - Thomas Klestil, former President of Austria (d. 2004)
- 1930 - Doris Roberts, American actress
- 1930 - Dick Groat, American baseball player
- 1930 - John Hahn-Petersen, Danish actor (d. 2006)
- 1929 - Shaike Ophir, Israeli actor (d. 1987)
- 1929 - Dickie Valentine, British singer (d. 1971)
- 1928 - Hannah Weiner American experimental poet
- 1923 - Freddy Heineken, Dutch businessman (d. 2002)
- 1923 - Howie Meeker, Canadian ice hockey player and politician
- 1922 - Benno Besson, Swiss actor (d. 2006)
- 1919 - Martin Balsam, American actor (d. 1996)
- 1918 - Art Carney, American actor (d. 2003)
- 1918 - Cameron Mitchell, American actor (d. 1994)
- 1916 - Walter Cronkite, American news broadcaster (d. 2009)
- 1916 - Ruth Handler, American businesswoman and inventor of the Barbie doll (d. 2002)
- 1913 - Gig Young, American actor (d. 1978)
- 1912 - Vadim Salmanov, Russian composer (d. 1978)
- 1909 - Skeeter Webb, American baseball player (d. 1986)
- 1909 - Bert Patenaude, American soccer player (d. 1974)
- 1909 - Evelyn Johnson, American aviator
- 1908 - Józef Rotblat, Polish physicist, Nobel laureate (d. 2005)
- 1908 - Stanley Cortez, American cinematographer (d. 1997)
- 1907 - Draga Matkovic, German concert pianist
- 1906 - Sterling North, American author (d. 1974)
- 1904 - Tadeusz ?yli?ski, Polish technician and textilist (d. 1967)
- 1901 - Princess Bang-ja of Korea (d. 1989)
- 1901 - Spyridon Marinatos, Greek archaeologist (d. 1974)
- 1900 - Lucre?iu P?tr??canu, Romanian communist activist and sociologist (d. 1954)
- 1899 - Nicolas Frantz, Luxembourgish cyclist (d. 1985)
- 1896 - Carlos P. Garcia, 8th President of the Philippines (1957-1960) (d. 1971)
- 1890 - Alfred Henschke, ps. Klabund, German writer and poet (d. 1928)
- 1887 - Alfred Lee Loomis, American physicist, philanthropist, scientific research patron (d. 1975)
- 1884 - Harry Ferguson, British aviator and inventor (d. 1960)
- 1883 - Nikolaos Plastiras, Greek general (d. 1953)
- 1879 - Will Rogers, American humorist (d. 1935)
- 1874 - Aleksandr Vasilevich Kolchak, Russian military commander (d. 1920)
- 1868 - Carolina Otero, a.k.a La Belle Otero, Spanish actress, singer and courtesan (d. 1965)
- 1845 - Vasudeo Balwant Phadke, Indian revolutionary (d. 1883)
- 1836 - Henry J. Lutcher, American businessman (d. 1912)
- 1816 - Stephen Johnson Field, Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court (d. 1899)
- 1809 - Benjamin Robbins Curtis, Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court (d. 1874)
- 1765 - Pierre Girard, French mathematician (d. 1836)
- 1740 - Augustus Montague Toplady, English author of hymn "Rock of Ages" (d. 1778)
- 1661 - Karl III Philip, Elector Palatine (d. 1742)
- 1631 - Mary of Orange, eldest daughter of Charles I of England and mother of William III of England (d. 1660)
- 1575 - Guido Reni, Italian painter (d. 1642)
- 1470 - King Edward V of England, one of the two princes in the Tower (d. 1483)
- 1448 - King Alphonso II of Naples (d. 1495)